Business travelers have moved beyond their once greatest worry of secure locks on guest room doors. Crimes like identity theft and terrorism concern the savvy traveler. Today's sophisticated threats call for sophisticated response. With hotels open around the clock, guests want to rest easy and...read more

When faced with a Request for Proposal (RFP), the temptation is to pull out all the stops with bells and whistles so that you land a top spot in the review process.  Present a proposal with the lowest pricing, several choices and extensive line items, and within days you increase room block bookings...read more

In "Part 1: A Novice Bird's Eye View for Using Social Media to Engage Clients", we reviewed in Steps 1, 2 and 3, how you can begin a social media marketing program simply: Basic Resources, Start Where You Are, and Schedule Commitment. If you have followed those steps, you are ready to move on to the...read more

RedRocketMedia recently produced an infographic detailing how travelers make hotel buying decisions. Even though this research is tied to the travel industry as a whole, I believe the information can be applied to business travelers, as well as, group business decision makers. Below, are four of the...read more

This week marks the anniversary of Alexander Graham Bell sending the message, "Mr. Watson, come here, I want to see you" to his assistant using electricity to transmit speech for the very first time. I often wonder what he would think of the developments his ingenuity influenced. The article, "The...read more

A key to repeat business is pleasing the business traveler. As a frequent traveler myself, I like to select my seat on an airplane. I prefer more legroom and an aisle seat. I will even pay a little extra for that comfort. When I take a cruise, I'll pay a little more to select the cabin I prefer,...read more

In the wake of the third disaster at sea in 27 months for the Carnival Corporation, discussions of safety and disaster preparedness are at the forefront. In 2013, the safety of a venue is also advertising a venue. I am a Carnival Past Guest and have a cruise scheduled this year that I continue to...read more

In Part 1: IMEX Group 2013 Top 10 Trends and How they Will Grow Your Business, we learned that face-to-face meetings have a value beyond virtual meetings. With more meetings being held, attendance is up as well and why not, meetings are more fun with the integration of gamification to get the...read more

In 2012 you promoted your hotel and may feel really great about the work you put into enhancing your social media and getting on the instant digital advertising train! Progress is good and you can pat yourself on the back for finally taking the step on that branding journey. You may be tempted to...read more

The GBTA (Global Business Travel Association) BTI Outlook-United States 2012 Q4 released in January forecasts a promising 2013 with a 4.6% increase in overall travel. The report mentions three key factors in this much awaited increase. Alex Eaton, president of World Travel Service in Tulsa, is...read more

Remember when Grandma's telephone was a shared line with the neighbors (a party line) and the only computers were in big hidden rooms in banks and other businesses? Remember when you got your first cell phone and it stayed in the car because it was larger than a bread box? Remember your first...read more

The last few weeks demanded a great deal of energy and time from you as the revenue manager at your hotel, but the 2012 reports are on the books and you have done everything you can with your team to build the bottom line most successfully. Just when you thought you could exhale, the fiscal cliff...read more

Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) are terms that continue to create buzz in the hospitality and events industry. But what do these terms really mean and how can your convention center or hotel property start to engage in this process?  First, the definitions:...read more

Preparing for 2013 revenue management requires a revenue management gurus that fully understand your hotel's business with exceptional analytical and mathematical prowess. Same old song, same old dance. Not in 2013. On the revenue management dance card will be sales, reservations and catering. The...read more

Preparation, preparation, preparation. Just like the Elves at the North Pole, you spend a lot of time thinking and executing before the "big event." While the Elves are preparing for a day that comes just once a year, chances are you're doing it every day. But the premise is the same. It all comes...read more

Meeting planners are continuously seeking the next great idea to add excitement and ROI to their group events. Christine Born and Libby Hoppe discuss "11 Ideas Changing Meetings" in Connect magazine, some of which you can incorporate into your meetings strategy as a hotelier in 2013. Below are five...read more

Have you ever considered what you might learn from this gathering as you advertise for group travel? Here are five simple things we can all garner from this wonderful day of food, rest, and relaxation. #1: You always know the day.    Thanksgiving falls on the fourth Thursday of November. Always....read more

Four years ago if someone had said the word 'future' in the same sentence as 'travel and tourism,' it would have been more likely a fear that there would even be a future. In 2012 the landscape has changed dramatically. The economy is still struggling but travel sources report that the future of...read more

Groups are stepping away from the buffet and don't want the standard rubber chicken offering. Attendees are taking back their food choices and they want a say as to what goes into their mouth. Believe it or not, one of the options they are excited about is…food trucks.  Food trucks are becoming...read more

Some hoteliers have identified a strong playing power that wins new group business. A typical contract between a hotel and planner lists services that are contracted for the particular group. However, the hotel winning group business is the one who can add the most goods and services valuable to the...read more